Next ‘Fest: June 1-2, 2024 | Crowne Plaza Louisville Hotel
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PLAN YOUR WEEKEND
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Tickets
Sold at the door only.
Adults: $36 for 1-day, $50 for 2-days.
Ages 4 to 12: $13 for 1-day, $20 for 2-days
Age 3 and under free.
Ticket booth hours…
Hotel & Restaurant
Special WonderFest room rate at the Crowne: $142 per night! It’s convenient to stay in our show hotel with an award-winning restaurant
Reserve a room online…
Louisville Attractions
Bring your family and take extra time to visit exciting tourism sites in and around Louisville. Go exploring the Bourbon Trails and more.
Fun in Louisville…
MEET THE 2024 GUESTS
Guests will sign autographs at their table or at posted times!
VANESSA HARRYHAUSEN
Daughter of Ray Harryhausen: Author, illustrator and Trustee of the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation
JOE DANTE
Director: Gremlins, Piranha, The Howling, Explorers, Innerspace, Small Soldiers, The 'Burbs
BELINDA BALASKI
Artist, writer & actress: Piranha, The Howling, Gremlins 1 & 2, Matinee, Food of the Gods
FON DAVIS
Production designer, modelmaker: Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline
FRANK DIETZ
Actor, Writer, Animator, Producer, Director: Creepshow, I Hate Kids, Black Roses, Zombie Nightmare
JOHN EAVES
Production Illustrator, Star Trek Picard, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and 3, WandaVision, Loki
SAM IRVIN
Director: Elvira's Haunted Hills; Author: The Epic Saga Behind 'Frankenstein: The True Story'
THE AMAZING MODEL CONTEST
Greatest in the World for Imaginative Modelers!
The WonderFest “Amazing” Model Contest is focused on all types of science-fiction, horror and comics models. It’s the biggest contest of its type in America, and it’s fun to look at even if you don’t build models yourself!
The contest is sponsored by Amazing Figure Modeler magazine, which is providing a special $300 award for the Most Amazing Figure!
Entry Hours: Saturday, June 1st, from 8 a.m. ’til Noon
- $15.00 per first 2 models for adults, up to 8 additional entries free
- $10.00 per first 2 models for teens, up to 8 add’l entries free (ages 13-19)
- Free for ages 12 & under
With over 1,049 entries in 2023, it filled an entire ballroom and featured some of the best modeling we’ve ever seen.
MUST-SEE PROGRAMMING
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How-To Demos
All weekend! Learn techniques from other great modelers! Demos last from 30 minutes to an hour. Become a better modeler!
More info…
Iron Modeler
Teams are given a “base model,” a big pile of parts, and 4 hours to build the craziest model with only what they’ve got. Best model & presentation wins!
More info…
The Rondo Awards
4pm Saturday! Fandom’s only classic horror awards—decided by fans. Recognize the best in print, film, web, art, media, toys and models!
More info…
Sunday Wrap Party
Sunday night at 7:30 celebrate the end of the show with exclusive programming! Optional a la carte food and cash bar.
More info…
WHAT IS WONDERFEST?
A weekend of wonder in Louisville!
WonderFest is a weekend of hobby escape that’s held every Summer in Louisville, Kentucky USA!
Now in its 34th year, WonderFest features movie special effects guests, the largest model contest in the U.S. for sci-fi, horror & comics-related subjects, model and toy dealers galore, and seminars to entertain and improve hobbyists of all ages!
It’s always held at our mothership, the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel, 830 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
They help make this event possible!
WONDERFEST LATEST NEWS
From our Facebook feed...
If you're a WonderFest regular, you know that we always offer FREE HOW-TO DEMONSTRATIONS all weekend long. We do it to share great techniques and help anyone become a better model maker!
This year we're looking for some new demo presenters to add to our talented veterans. If you have a technique you think other modelers will want to hear about--and can present it in 45 minutes or less--bring it on!
Our demo coordinators will review the proposals and choose the ones we can fit in this year.
Here's a special webpage with the details and form you can use to send in your idea:
www.wonderfest.com/demo-presenters-needed/
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Can crochet count? Asking for a friend.
I hope someone volunteers to teach how to paint eyes
Already signed up
GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT: GREG NICOTERO!!
Greg Nicotero is a fan favorite who's usually our LAST guest (when he can make it) 'cause he's so busy! Greg's best known for THE WALKING DEAD and its spinoffs, FEAR THE WALKING DEAD, TWD: DARYL DIXON, and TWD: DEAD CITY--as well as CREEPSHOW! You've seen this Oscar- and Emmy-winning makeup maestro's work in movies like EVIL DEAD 2, ALIENS, THE MIST, SIN CITY, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, PREDATORS, WEREWOLF BY NIGHT, and many, many more. Greg's also an accomplished creator, producer and director...and yes, a restauranteur!
While in Louisville, don't miss taking a trip downtown to Greg (and actor buddy Norman Reedus’s) restaurant NIC & NORMAN’S | LOUISVILLE. The food and atmosphere are terrific!
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2024 #GregNicotero #TheWalkingDead #creepshow #wonderfesthobbyexpo
18 CommentsComment on Facebook
The food at Nic & Normans is sooooo good!
Awesome news!
I can’t wait! This is going to be epic!
We’re honored to welcome the RONDO HATTON CLASSIC HORROR AWARDS to WonderFest for their 22nd year!
On Saturday, June 1st at 4PM, join the Monster of Ceremonies DAVID COLTON for the handing out of the coveted Rondos! Several of the 2023 nominees are attending WonderFest in-person this year.
Voted on by fans and professionals alike, the Rondo Awards salute the best in all media and print categories and celebrate both the history and future of our beloved gods and monsters.
VOTE NOW! Voting is by email only until midnight, April 16th. See the nominees list and follow the directions to vote here:
rondoaward.com/rondoaward.com/blog/
#wonderfest2024 #wonderfesthobbyexpo #rondoawards
1 CommentComment on Facebook
I cant wait for WonderFest!! This will be my 34th show!!
GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT:
SAM IRVIN is a multiple Rondo Award winning veteran film and television director, producer, screenwriter, author, journalist and film teacher. His credits, just to name-drop a few, include working with Brian De Palma on THE FURY & DRESSED TO KILL, directing the supernatural TV series Dante’s Cove to being co-executive producer of the Academy Award-winning film GODS AND MONSTERS starring Sir Ian McKellen as Frankenstein director James Whale. In 2001, he brought out the big guns to direct ELVIRA'S HAUNTED HILLS—a fan favorite!
A published author, Sam's newest book, "The Epic Saga Behind 'Frankenstein: The True Story'” is now available, and his "I Was a Teenage Monster Hunter!" is a fan favorite. In his spare time, (does he have any?), he teaches graduate courses on directing at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.
Find show details at: www.wonderfest.com
#wonderfest2024 #samirvin #wonderfesthobbyexpo
1 CommentComment on Facebook
Can’t wait to see everybody at WonderFest USA 2024! Thanks to Melinda Angstrom & David Hodge for having me again! Hopefully, I won’t need to be rushed to the hospital this time! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
NEW FRIDAY WORKSHOP!
Design Futuristic Models: 3D Modeling for 3D Printing Innovation!
Friday, May 31 | 8am-6pm | Instructor: Stephen Burns
New to 3D? This class is perfect for you. Take a deep dive in learning how to build in Blender specifically for 3D printing. Blender 3D is an open source 3D software package that allows you to build, texture, animate, create effects and 3D print. And it is amazing!! This class will focus on getting to know Blender 3D as a software and how to build, texture and render your 3D visions.
3D Printers have come down in price tremendously. Class will address two types: Resin printers (SLA) and filament printers (FDM). Printing Software to be used and discussed will be Chitubox, Lychee and Cura.
Cost for the class is $275 per person. Prerequisites: Bring your own laptop, install Blender 3D (it’s free!), and have a mouse that has a scroll wheel for the middle button.
For more info and to register:
futuristicmodel.eventbrite.com
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
Can’t imagine getting to know Blender well enough for solid modeling for use with 3D printing in one day. Honestly you can do a lot with TinkerCad then graduate to the more serious applications. For beginners I wouldn’t recommend Blender.
Terrific and rats! So many class choices so little time.
I am looking so forward to being back again with this popular workshop. If you heard about Blender 3D but never understood how to use it with designing your creation then join us for this full day class.